Page 24 of Fixer for the Billionaire

But tonight, that changes.

I’m set on picking up where we left off at Sopra, before she called it a night.

The tailor steps back, his work done, just as my cousin Killian lounges against the wall, amusement in his amber-brown eyes. "Not bad, Q. Might start calling you 'GQ'."

I roll my eyes and adjust a cufflink. "You get paid for those jokes?"

Killian just laughs and passes me my jacket. "Never seen you so upbeat about going stag."

I don the jacket, its fabric settling perfectly. "Is that so weird?"

"For you?" He saunters over, eyeing me. "Hell yeah. What happened to Twisty Tina—uh, the aerialist?"

Adjusting my tie in the mirror, I reply. "Tiana. And we're not a thing anymore. Decided to fly solo. Got to make sure this party's flawless. And for your information, I can survive without a fling for a week."

He chuckles. "Just doesn’t seem like you."

"Maybe I'm just focusing on work."

Yet, as I say it, Carmina’s image floods my thoughts—the way she looked in the rain, or during that reading, or how our kiss felt before she pulled away.

I shake my head clear as Killian claps a hand on my shoulder. "Taking our intervention to heart, huh?"

"Don't kid yourself. Just too busy for distractions."

He smirks. "Since when does work stop you? Besides," his smirk fades, "we’re the last Anderson bachelors. Even Carmina’s got a date tonight, and you don’t."

I freeze. "Carmina has a date?"

"Yeah, some hotshot doctor. Went through the whole grapevine to get to me."

"Great, our family's a walking game of telephone." I swallow hard, my pulse racing. "Good for her."

Killian squints at me, then whistles. "You've got it bad, huh?" I straighten my tie, stepping away. He holds up his hands. "Hey, being jealous just means you care."

"I’m not jealous," I snap, my hands clenching. "I’m focused on work. On being the best Best Man for Ry. And getting through this wedding without any disasters."

Killian chuckles and claps me on the back. "Right, right. Because avoiding disasters has always been your top priority," he smirks, catching the glare I shoot his way before he saunters off, leaving me to finish getting ready.

Standing in front of the mirror, adjusting my cufflinks, Killian's words echo in my head.

The idea of Carmina walking into tonight's party—a party we both poured our hearts into—with a date on her arm tightens a fist around my stomach. I can't recall ever feeling this...irritable. So off my game.

Looking at my reflection, I admit maybe Killian has a point.

Having a date myself might just tip the scales. Show Carmina I'm too indifferent to be bothered by her moves.

It's short notice, but I'm confident I can find someone.

Despite Killian being a thorn in my side, he occasionally makes a good point.

Sighing, I grab my phone and start scrolling through my contacts for a potential date.

* * *

CARMINA

Stepping into Ryder and Jenny's engagement bash, a buzz of excitement hits me. For once, I'm in a dress that screams elegance rather than "I've been laboring over pasta."

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